Tamping machine for setting floor covering tiles

ABSTRACT

The tamping machine has a frame including rollers and vibrating means, and the frame includes two longitudinal beams interconnected by cross beams secured at their ends to the longitudinal beams. A respective bar of plastic composition material is interchangeably secured to each longitudinal frame beam and each bar has two vertically spaced rows of longitudinally spaced apertures serving as bearings for the rollers. The rollers are mounted in the lower row of apertures and, if a bar is damaged, it may be inverted so that the rollers can be rotatably mounted in the former upper row of apertures. The vibrating means comprises at least two parallel connected magnetic vibrators secured at central portions of the cross beams, and noise-reducing insulating material is associated with each vibrator. The cross beams are preferably inverted channels whose legs or flanges are secured to the longitudinal beams, and the longitudinal beams are preferably angles. The channels of the cross beams are preferably filled with a sound-absorbing material such as plastic foam. As a feature of the invention, an eccentric motor may be mounted on an intermediate cross beam with its axis extending parallel to the axes of the rotor, and one or more weights, which may be either units or multi-part weights, may be supported on the frame.

United States Patent [191 Durst 1 TAMPING MACHINE FOR SETTING FLOOR COVERING TILES [76] Inventor: Felix Ernst Durst,

Oberweningen-Schofflisdorf, Switzerland [22] Filed: Jan. 20, 1972 [21] App]. No.: 219,332

404/125,126,12 8,132,122,12 B, 124; 16/19, 105; 180/20; 172/254, 577, 702, 703, 704; 305/28; 308/6 R, 16, DIG. 7

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,364,605 1/1921 Ashmorc et a1. 404/117 1,273,022 7/1918 Ashmore et al. 404/75 2,998,397 8/1961 Riesing 308/D1G. 7 X 592,665 10/1897 Rogers 308/16 2,968,055 l/1961 Linderoth 308/DIG. 7 X

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 354,558 8/1931 Great Britain 404/125 736,600 1/1933 France 404/117 648,298 7/1937 Germany 404/133 392,915 5/1933 Great Britain 404/117 842,590 7/1960 Great Britain 180/20 [4 1 Jan. 8, 1974 Primary Examiner-Roy D. Frazier Assistant ExaminerThomas J. Holko Attorney-John J. McGlew et al.

[57] ABSTRACT The tamping machine has a frame including rollers and vibrating means, and the frame includes two longitudinal beams interconnected by cross beams secured at their ends to the longitudinal beams. A respective bar of plastic composition material is interchangeably secured to each longitudinal frame beam and each bar has two vertically spaced rows of longitudinally spaced apertures serving as bearings for the rollers. The rollers are mounted in the lower row of apertures and, if a bar is damaged, it may be inverted so that the rollers can be rotatably mounted in the former upper row of apertures. The vibrating means comprises at least two parallel connected magnetic vibrators secured at central portions of the cross beams, and noise-reducing insulating material is associated with each vibrator. The cross beams are preferably inverted channels whose legs or flanges are secured to the longitudinal beams, and the longitudinal beams are preferably angles. The channels of the cross beams are preferably filled with a sound-absorbing material such as plastic foam. As a feature of the invention, an eccentric'motor may be mounted on an intermediate cross beam with its axis extending; parallel to the axes of the rotor, and one or more weights, which may be either units or multi-part weights, may be supported on the frame.

18 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PATENTEIJ 8W4 3.784.314

sum 20; 4

PATENTED JAN 8 74 SHEET 3 BF 4 PATENTED 8w 3,784,314

SHEET '4 (IF 4 1 TAMPING MACHINE FOR SETTING FLOOR COVERING TILES FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to tamping machines for setting floor covering tiles and, more particularly, to a novel and improved tamping machine in which the supporting rollers are rotatably mounted in plastic composition bars interchangeably secured to longitudinal beams of the machine frame.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In known machines of this type, the rollers are mounted directly in the longitudinal beams of the frame, which also mount the vibrating means of the machine, such as magnetic blow or impact vibrators. Such a design has the result that the blows or impacts of the vibrators, which act directly on the supports of the rollers, not only cause considerable noise but are transmitted directly, through the rollers arranged in the range of the impact zones of the supportspto the tiles to be set. This localized impact of the vibrations on the tiles can lead, in the case of brittle tile material, to cracking or destruction of individual tiles. Additionally, it requires a high degree of strength of the frame connec tions and of the bearings of the rollers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The tamping machine embodying the invention avoids these disadvantages in that the ends of cross beams of the lower frame interconnect two longitudinal frame beams with each other, and each longitudinal frame beam has interchangeably or exchangeably secured thereto, as by screws, a respective plastic composition bar, with the rollers being rotatably mounted in these bars. Since the impacts of the vibrators do not act directly on the longitudinal beams, the blow or impact energy is distributed evenly over the rollers. The plastic bars, serving as bearings for the rollers, not onlyhave a noise-reducing and impact-reducing effect, but also prevent possible deflection of the roller bearings causing damage to the longitudinal beams and thus tothe frame. By exchanging the plastic bars, any damaged bearings can be easily replaced.

Advantageously, the vibrating means has at least two parallel-connected magnetic vibrators whose working chambers are arranged in closed housings which are secured on the center parts of the cross beamsnlthas been found to be advantageous to provide two cross beams'each carrying at least two vibrators, and to design the cross beams as inverted channels whose bases are connected to the housings of the vibrator blow or impact chambers. These cross beams have the edges of their downturned flanges secured to the horizontal arms of the longitudinal beams, which preferably have an angle cross-section. The downwardly extending legs or arms of the longitudinal beams carry, on the surfaces facing each other, the plastic composition bars formed with bearing openings for the rollers. The interior of the cross beams, which is open at the bottom, preferably is filled with a noise-reducing material, for example, with plastic foam. The housing jacket enclosing the vibrator impact chambers preferably is provided with a cuff of noise-reducing insulating material.

It has been found, in practice, that a uniform distribution of the vibrator impacts over all the rollers can be attained with a machine designed in accordance with tamping machine, embodying the invention,

the invention. On the other hand, it is clear that the vibrator impacts, which always act vertically, can lead, under certain circumstances, to a relatively hard run of the machine. In accordance with the invention, the machine is substantially improved, in this respect, by securing, at least substantially in the center of the roller frame, an eccentric motor with the axis of rotation of the eccentric body extending parallel to the rollers. The eccentric motor can form the vibrating means alone, or can act in cooperation with magnetic vibrators as mentioned above and, in the latter case, it can be started and stopped independently of the magnetic vibrators. The eccentric motor, which preferably works at a relatively high speed of 2,800 rpm, for example, also produces a sort of vibration which, if magnetic vibrators are also provided, is superposed on the vertical vibration effected by the magnetic vibrators, but which does not act strictly vertically, due to the revolving eccentric body, but rather uniformly in a vertical plane through the roller axis.

In order to ensure a better engagement of the rollers with respect to unevenness and to prevent, respec tively, excessive load on the bearings of a single roller when impacting against an unevenness, the bearing pins of the rollers preferably are mounted with relatively great radial play in the plastic bars. This also avoids a slightly projecting cover plate from being dis placed by a striking roller.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved tamping machine for setting floor covering tiles.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a machine which isfree of the disadvantages of known prior art tamping machines.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a machine in which the impacts of magnetic vibrators do not act directly on the longitudinal beams of a frame and in which the impact energy is distributed evenly over the supporting rollers.

For an understanding of the principles of the invention, referenceis made tothe following description of typical embodiments thereof as illustrated in the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING In the drawing: FIG. I is a vertical cross-sectional view through a along the line lI of FIG. 2; i

FIG. 2 is a topplan view of the machine shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a right side elevation view of the machine shown in FIG. 1 I

FIG. 4 is a vertical section, 0111 an enlarged scale, taken along the line IV IV of FIG. 2 and with the vibrator head being omitted;

FIG. 5 is a vertical cross-sectionalview through another tamping machine embodying the invention;

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the machine shown in FIGS; and

FIG. 7 illustrates a variation of the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 5.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS l with an angle cross-section, having horizontal legs extending toward each other. At spacings from the ends of beams 1, two cross beams 2 are secured to the horizontal legs of beams l, and these cross beams have an inverted channel-shape which opens downwardly. On the inner surfaces of the vertically extending legs of beams 1, there are detachably or interchangeably mounted, by means of screws, respective plastic composition material bars 12 whose lower edges project somewhat downwardly beyond the lower edges of the vertical legs of beams 1.

Bars 12 are formed with two vertically spaced rows of bores 13 and, in the bores 13 of the bottom row, there are mounted end pins 14 of rollers 15. The rows of bores 13 are arranged so that, when wear damage appears in the bores 13 of bars 12 receiving roller pins 14, these bars can be removed and used again as bearing bars by turning them through I80". To mount rollers 15, bars 12 are placed on end pins 14 of the rollers to form a unit including rollers and bars, and this unit is inserted as a whole into the frame and secured therein by screws engaged through bars 12 and into longitudinal beams 1.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 1 4, two magnetic vibrators 3 are arranged on the center of each cross beam 2 between longitudinal beams l, and the impact chambers of vibrators 3 are formed in cylindrical housings 4 which are enclosed or embraced by a cuff 5 of noisereducing material, as best seen in FIG. 4. An impact-damping plastic disc is inserted into the impact chamber of each housing 4, and housings 4 are welded on cross beams 2. In order to secure the bases of the housings, in the impact range, over as large as possible an area of the crossbeams 2, the cross beams 2 are drilled at the respective points 7 and welded again with the housing bases, as shown in FIG. 4.

The parallel-connected vibrators 3 are connected by cables with a junction box 8 arranged on one cross beam 2, and to which there can be connected a current supply cable, which has not been shown, leading to a switching apparatus including a pulse transmitter. The switching apparatus preferably is arranged on a guide yoke 9 by means of which the machine can be guided by hand over the tiles to be set, and whose arms are pivotally mounted on flanges or ears 10 secured on longitudinal beams l. The downwardly opening interiors of cross beams 2 are filled with sound-absorbing material 11, such as plastic foam, for example. On the upper edges of longitudinal beams 1, there is secured a supporting grate 16 which serves to mount weights in order to be able to load the machine additionally, if required.

Due to the design of the tamping machine, as described, the vibrator impacts are transmitted to all rollers in a manner distributed evenly over the entire length of longitudinal beams 1. This, and the sound reduction attained by discs 6 and bars 12, not only protects the machine parts but also prevents damage to the tiles to be set. While the described embodiment mentions four parallel-connected vibrators 3, it is possible to provide only three, or more than four, vibrators. Thus, for example, one or two additional vibrators could be arranged fixedly or disengageably on the cross beams 2, or on one or two additional, and possibly disengageable, cross beams in order to be able to adapt the operation of the vibrating machine to the respective conditions.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the same reference numbers have been used for the same parts, as were used in FIGS. 1 and 2. The crossbeams 2 carrying the magetic vibrators are connected with each other by a center bridge 20 on which is secured, at the center of the frame, an eccentric motor 30. The axis of rotation a of the eccentric, which has not been specifically indicated, extends parallel to the axes of rollers 15. Since the machine is rolled backward and forwardly during use, by means of guide yoke 9, the direction of rotation of eccentric motor 30 is immaterial.

Bores 33 of plastic bars 12, serving as bearings for the end pins 14 of rollers 15, have a larger diameter than pins 14 so that rollers 15 are mounted with a relatively large radial play in bars 12. The rollers thus can adapt themselves better to unevenness of the floor. The striking of a roller against the floor elevation thus is facilitated, and the practically continuous contact of all rollers with the floor is ensured to a great extent.

It has been found that eccentric motor 30 superposes, on the vertical impacts of the magnetic vibrators, a rotating vibration, which leads to a particularly quiet and smooth running of the machine and to particularly good and rapid setting. If desired, it is possible also to work temporarily alone with the magnetic vibrators, or alone with the eccentric motor, or to omit the magnetic vibrators entirely for smaller machines.

Such an embodiment is illustrated, by way of example, in FIG. 7. In this figure, the same parts are designated with the same reference characters as used in FIGS. 1 through 6. In the embodiment of FIG. 7, the vibrating means comprises only the eccentric motor 30. When particularly brittle, easily cracking tiles are to be set, high impact amplitudes are undesired, since a re duction of the amplitude can be attained by increasing the weight of the machine. For this purpose, removable weights 35, 35a, or 35b are arranged laterally of eccentric motor 30 on cross beams 2. As shown on the right in FIG. 7, each weight can consist of a single piece and be provided with a handle for easier handling. The left side of FIG. 7 shows a variation in which the weight is a two-part weight comprising the components 35a and 35b.

Weights 35 are arranged only loosely on cross beams 2, so that they can thus move freely in a vertical direction, while they are secured against lateral displacement by pin connections as shown, for example, in FIG. 7 on the left side. If two-part or multi-part weights 35 are provided, the weight load can be adapted to the respective requirements. With the vibration machine running, the weights will begin to jump so that vertical impacts are produced through frame 1,2 and the rollers 15, which are superposed on the vibrations provided by motor 30. The combined vibrations effect a compression of the binding material for the covering tiles, the impacts on the main axis being produced by the jumping weights and acting directly on the tiles still projecting above the desired plane of the covering.

While specific embodiments of the invention have been shown and described in detail to illustrate the application of the principles of the invention, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise without departing from such principles.

What is claimed is:

1. A tamping machine, for setting floor covering tiles and having a frame including rollers and vibrating means, comprising, in combination, two longitudinal frame beams; cross frame beams secured at their ends to said longitudinal frame beams and interconnecting the latter;

and respective bars of plastic composition material interchangeably secured to each longitudinal frame beam; said rollers being rotatably mounted in said plastic composition bars, said longitudinal beams being formed by angles having horizontal legs extending toward each other and vertical legs extending downwardly; said bars being disengageably secured by threaded connectors on the inner surfaces of the vertical legs of said longitudinal beams; each bar having a number of bores adjacent its lower edge and serving as bearings for end pins of said rollers.

2. A tamping machine, as claimed in claim 1, in which said vibrating means includes at least two parallel-connected magnetic vibrators whose impact chambers are arranged in closed housings secured on the center part of said cross beams.

3. A tamping machine, as claimed in claim 2, including cuffs of noise-reducing insulating material embracing the housings of said magnetic vibrators.

4. A tamping machine, as claimed in claim 3, in which each impact chamber has a base; and a disc of plastic composition material in each impact chamber on the base thereof.

5. A tamping machine, as claimed in claim 2, including a junction box commonly electrically connected to said magnetic vibrators;

said junction box being adapted for connection to a switching apparatus including a pulse transmitter; said junction box being mounted on one of said cross beams.

6. A tamping machine, as claimed in claim 1, in which each bar having a second row of bores adjacent its upper edge and usable as bearings for said end pins after turning of the respective bar through 180.

7. A tamping machine, as claimed in claim 6, in which said cross frame beams are downwardly opening channels having the free edges of their flanges secured to the horizontal legs of said longitudinal frame beams;

said vibrating means comprising at least two vibrators mounted on each cross frame beam.

8. A tamping machine, as claimed in claim 7, in

which the downwardly opening interior of each cross beam is filled with sound-absorbing material.

9. A tamping machine, as claimed in claim 8, in which its sound-absorbing material is a plastic foam.

10. A tamping machine, as claimed in claim 7, in which the base of each cross beam is formed with an opening at the bearing points of said vibrators and is welded to the base of the impact chamber housing of each vibrator mounted thereon.

11. A tamping machine, as claimed in claim 7, including a supporting grate, for receiving loading weights, mounted on said longitudinal beams and extending beyond said vibrators.

12. A tamping machine, as claimed in claim 1, in which said vibrating means includes an eccentric motor secured substantially at the center of said frame and having an axis of rotation of its eccentric body extending parallel to the axes of said rollers.

13. A tamping machine, as claimed in claim 12, in which said vibrating means further includes magnetic vibrators mounted on said cross beams; said eccentric motor being controllable independently of said magnetic vibrators.

14. A magnetic vibrator, as claimed in claim 12, in which there are two cross beams;

a bridge extending between and connected to said cross beams;

said eccentric motor being mounted on said bridge.

15. A tamping machine, as claimed in claim 1, in which said rollers have end pins extending with radial play into respective bores of said plastic composition bars.

16. A tamping machine, as claimed in claim 12, including removable weights resting on said frame;

means securing said weights against lateral displacement while providing for said weights to be vertically displaced.

17. A tamping machine, as claimed in claim 16, in which said weights are arranged on said frame on opposite sides of said vibrating means;

at least one of said weights being a one-part weight.

18. A tamping machine, as claimed in claim 16, in which said weights are arranged on opposite sides of said vibrating means; i

at least one of said weights being a multi-part weight. 

1. A tamping machine, for setting floor covering tiles and having a frame including rollers and vibrating means, comprising, in combination, two longitudinal frame beams; cross frame beams secured at their ends to said longitudinal frame beams and interconnecting the latter; and respective bars of plastic composition material interchangeably secured to each longitudinal frame beam; said rollers being rotatably mounted in said plastic composition bars, said longitudinal beams being formed by angles having horizontal legs extending toward each other and vertical legs extending downwardly; said bars being disengageably secured by threaded connectors on the inner surfaces of the vertical legs of said longitudinal beams; each bar having a number of bores adjacent its lower edge and serving as bearings for end pins of said rollers.
 2. A tamping machine, as claimed in claim 1, in which said vibrating means includes at least two parallel-connected magnetic vibrators whose impact chambers are arranged in closed housings secured on the center part of said cross beams.
 3. A tamping machine, as claimed in claim 2, including cuffs of noise-reducing insulating material embracing the housings of said magnetic vibrators.
 4. A tamping machine, as claimed in claim 3, in which each impact chamber has a base; and a disc of plastic composition material in each impact chamber on the base thereof.
 5. A tamping machine, as claimed in claim 2, including a junction box commonly electrically connected to said magnetic vibrators; said junction box being adapted for connection to a switching apparatus including a pulse transmitter; said junction box being mounted on one of said cross beams.
 6. A tamping machine, as claimed in claim 1, in which each bar having a second row of bores adjacent its upper edge and usable as bearings for said end pins after turning of the respective bar through 180*.
 7. A tamping machine, as claimed in claim 6, in which said cross frame beams are downwardly opening channels having the free edges of their flanges secured to the horizontal legs of said longitudinal frame beams; said vibrating means comprising at least two vibrators mounted on each cross frame beam.
 8. A tamping machine, as claimed in claim 7, in which the downwardly opening interior of each cross beam is filled with sound-absorbing material.
 9. A tamping machine, as claimed in claim 8, in which its sound-absorbing material is a plastic foam.
 10. A tamping machine, as claimed in claim 7, in which the base of each cross beam is formed with an opening at the bearing points of said vibrators and is welded to the base of the impact chamber housing of each vibrator mounted thereon.
 11. A tamping machine, as claimed in claim 7, including a supporting grate, for receiving loading weights, mounted on said longitudinal beams and extending beyond said vibrators.
 12. A tamping machine, as claimed in claim 1, in which said vibrating means includes an eccentric motor secured substantially at the center of said frame and having an axis of rotation of its eccentric body extending parallel to the axes of said rollers.
 13. A tamping machine, as claimed in claim 12, in which said vibrating means further includes magnetic vibrators mounted on said cross beams; said eccentric motor being controllable independently of said magnetic vibrators.
 14. A magnetic vibrator, as claimed in claim 12, in which there are two cross beams; a bridge extending between and connected to said cross beams; said eccentric motor being mounted on said bridge.
 15. A tamping machine, as claimed in claim 1, in which said rollers have end pins extending with radial play into respective bores of said plastic composition bars.
 16. A tamping machine, as claimed in claim 12, including removable weights resting on said frame; means securing said weights against lateral displacement while providing for said weights to be vertically displaced.
 17. A tamping machine, as claimed in claim 16, in which said weights are arranged on said frame on opposite sides of said vibrating means; at least one of said weights being a one-part weight.
 18. A tamping machine, as claimed in claim 16, in which said weights are arranged on opposite sides of said vibrating means; at least one of said weights being a multi-part weight. 